Skirt-hoop



JAMES G. GILBERT, OF VINTHROP, MAINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 22,868, dated February 8, 1859. a

To all whom 'it may concem:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. GILBERT, of l/Vinthrop, in the county of Kennebec and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful or' Improved Hoop for Ladies, Skirts; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, of whichw Figure 1, is an external View of one of the said hoops while Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of one of its stationary abutments, the inelastic cord, the spools, movable abutments and Springs extending between the stationary abutments. Fig. 3 is a' side View of one of the stationary abutments showing the manner in which the inelastic cord is passed around and through it.

In the said drawings, A, denotes the hoop it being composed of a series of stationary spools or abutments, a, a, certain movable abutments, Z), b, helical springs o, c, and

sundry wooden cylinders, (Z, (Z, cl, strung on an inelastic cord, e. Each of the abutment. pieces is constructed with a hole bored axially through it, and with a lateral pasJ sage, f, leading out of said hole and through the middle of the abutment piece. The mode of passing the cord through the abutment piece is first to insert it into one end thereof, and draw it through the lateral passage, thence to carry it around the block, or abutment piece and in its groove, one or more times, and thence to pass it, into the lateral passage, and thence forward through the front portion of the axial passage. By drawing the cord tightly, the abutment, a, will be rendered, for all practical purposes, stationary thereon.

The movable abutments, b, Z), are formed in longitudinal section as shown, in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in order that one may enter the other, and both carry a heli'cal spring having its greatest diameter equal to that of each abutment. Several of these Springs and their movable abutments are arranged between each two of the stationary abutments a, a, and on the inelastic cord, 0, as shown in the drawings there being also between each two Springs, three or any other suitable number ofsmall spools or cylinders, (Z, (Z, (Z, which are bored axially for the reception of the cord on which both the movable and stationary abutments are strung. The two extremities of the cord may be fastened in one of the stationary abutments.

This mode of making a skirt hoop has important advantages over others composed of small wooden cylinders or metallic thimbles strung upon an elasitc cord Ior upon an inelastic cord and furnished with springs arranged between them, as the stationary abutments cause the strain of all the Springs upon the cord to be divided in such manner that the cord is not near so liable to be broken as would be the case were the stationary abutments dispensed with. Furthermore in case the cord should break between two adjacent ends of any two stationary abutments that part of the hook which is between the opposite ends of the said abutments will remain uninjured.

The above mode of making a skirt hoop insures to it the requisite stifiness, with proper fiexibility, and enables it to be bent up, and stowed or packed in small compassor, in other words, it can be doubled, folded or bent up and pushed aside in almost any manner the wearer may choose preparatory to sit-ting in a chair or on a seat of any kind, or after she may have seated herself thereon.

An inelastic cord is much better than one which 'is 'elastic, as by means of the former and the springs applied between the spools or wooden cylinders strung on the cord, more lateral stifiness to insure the set or standing out of the hoop is obtained and maintained, than when the elasticity is in the cord.

I do not claim a hoop skirt composed of hollow pieces of wood threaded on a cord of elastic material; nor one made of solid pieces of wood united at their ends by some suitable elastic fabric, because such inventions are referred to in the London Mecham'cls Magazine, Volume 52, published in 1850; nor do I claim a hoop of spools or tubes constructed and strung upon an elastic cord or its equivalent and having their ends formed as shown in the United States patent, numbered 18013, nor do I claim the arrangement of a fastening block at the juncton of the ends of the cord, such block atng in manner and for the purpose as being shown n Fg. 15, of the said patent, specfied. 10 but In testlnony Whereof, I have hereunto What I do clam sset my signature. 5 In connection With the movable spools and J AMES O. GILBERT.

Springs placed or strung on the cord, a IVitnesses: series of stationary abutment blocks, a, a, a R. H. EDDY, fastened at ntervals to the cord and oper- F. P. HALE, Jr. 

